Coupeville Sports

  Tina (Lyness) Joiner and the best-dressed man in town, son Gracen. Kid can rock a snappy hat like few others.

Tina (Lyness) Joiner is one of those once-in-a-lifetime legends.

On the basketball court, she was silky smooth, firing up jumpers that barely rippled the nets as they dropped through the twine, sending rival teams home with nothing but their sweet, sweet tears to comfort them afterwards.

A key member of the 1999-2000 Coupeville High School girls’ hoops squad — the first to ever win a game at the state tourney — she helped kick off a golden age for Wolf girls’ b-ball.

But on the court, and off, Tina has always been defined by her sunny personality.

Through great times and tough times, her smile never wavered. Was never put on just for show. Was never fake.

She was, and is today, on her 32nd birthday, one of the most genuinely sweet and caring people I have ever met in my two decades in Cow Town.

It is not a quality she merely displays from time to time. It is an essence that flows from her day in and day out.

Tina really is as wonderful a person as she seems at first glance. The more you come to know about her, the more you come to appreciate.

Hopefully today (and every day), husband Jason and son Gracen (the nattiest dresser in town, hands down) make sure she knows how much she is appreciated.

You have always made Coupeville a better place, Mrs. Joiner. May you continue to do so for a very long time.